Whats it like and would you recommend it?

[Anonymous]

I've only been following the railroad industry for a few months if that, and I'm still having a difficult time taking everything in and learning what railroading has to offer. So please excuse my "newbie" status and questions, no matter how general they maybe.

Anyways I was wondering does anyone (and Im sure there are alot of you) here work in the railroad industry and actually work with trains (wether thats being a yard worker or a conductor) on a daily basis? If so I was wondering if possibly you could tell me or anyone who might be interested, whats an average day for a person working on a train?

Also would you recommend anyone to get into the industry or is it one of these jobs you should stay clear of because there are better rewards and jobs out there? Is it something I should look into and consider? More importantly, is there a future in it? I have recently started to learn about these remote control trains and what that might do to the job market. Will they have an impact on a person like myself who has absolutly no experience?

See I'm only 21. I'm just not sure what I want to do with my life. I was just wondering if this is worth the effort. Whats the pay like for the average person? What kind of training is involved? Are you home every night? Good benefits? If someone gets a job, can you climb the ladder so to speak for better positions once you gain experience or is it a dead end job? What would be considered a "newbie" job? Are layoffs common? And finally is there a demand for workers in the railroad industry?

Well thank you all for taking the time to read this.

Take care and have a good day.

Steve

[Anonymous]

Well I don't work for the railroad, so listen to what the rr workers say over me, but I have researched the careers, or at least some of them. This is coming from personal research and knoledge gained since I began working at the Brunswick RR Museum:
If you stick to it, it can be worth your while. The average of American locomotive engineer wages comes out to about 70-79,000 a year. Many engineers get much less though. When you start as an engineer or freight conductor, you are on call. when your name comes up for a job, you ar called and expected to be there for work within the hour, weither it be 12 pm or 12 am. When you have worked for years (Many years) and gain senority, you can choose when and where you'r going, and you earn more moola. If you want to stick with it. Id say it would be worth your time to look into. And plus, at least with CSX around here, 21 is the minimum age for training and training courses, so you are just in time. You could also take the course (It would cost of course) given by and for a railroad, and decide from what you learn if you really want the job. Plus if you do, some students in the classes are offered jobs right on the spot!

But don't take my word as the only truth. I know many of the guys on here are railroaders, and you should take their word over mine!

[Anonymous]

Dear Steve-WI,
I don't work in the railroad industry, I'm just a railfan, so I'll leave answers to your questions to those qualified to give them. However, railroads have job openings listed on their websites, and I find it interesting to look at these from time to time. For Union Pacifc, the jobs are listed under the General Public category at www.uprr.com; I don't know about other railroads' websites. Also, take into account that railroads also need people as management and such, jobs which often require higher education.

I hope I have helped,
Daniel

P.S. If you do take a job with a railroad, let us know.

[daveklepper]

If there is a shortline railroad in your area, by all means visit it . They are usually less formal, more forthcoming with advice and information, and possibly a better place to work for a newcomer, especially since you would probably have the opportunity to to serve in a variety of jobs, not just one. But the pay may be less and the seniority more tenuous . But it would be a great place to be paid to learn. Dave Klepper

[Anonymous]

CSX website is either http://www.csx.com or http://www.csxt.com

[jeaton]

Steve-

The jobs in train operations are 7/24 all weather year around positions. (You face working in weather such as we have had for the last couple of weeks). Based on what I pick up from reading, pay scales and benefits such as health care coverage are pretty good. For the long term (30 years up to age 62) you are covered by Railroad Retirement rather than Social Security. You pay in more over time, but I understand full retirement pay now comes in around $40K/year. OK, your'e 21 and that is not high on your priority. One drawback is that you may be subject to layoff depending on fluxuations in traffic levels. In any field, technology presents a threat of job obsolescence, but now where trains are automated, humans are on board to override the automation.

At any rate, at your age and assuming you are not yet tied to the obligations of your own family or financial commitments such home ownership, check it out. As a start go to http://www.railjobs.com. There are links to the job listing sites for Amtrak and several Class 1's. The Union Pacific link doesn't work but if you search you may find. UP is reported to be planning to hire thousands. If you decide to apply anywhere, do it quick. Getting seniority near the top of the latest batch of new hires can often be the difference between very steady work and frequent layoffs.

Good Luck. PS. Way back when, I had about three years in train operations and then got a suit job for another 12. My pension is not full, but about $300 more than SSI.

[foamer4000]

jeaton. I have hired out with the Union Pacific. My start date is pending. I would ask you, or any other railroader, for an honest opinion of the railrad lifestyle. I mostly want to know if all of the sacrafice on family is worth it in the long run. I have talked to some railroaders and get it's a great job, or it sucks! Just looking for more input.
David

[jeaton]

David

To be clear, my train service was in the late 50's to the early 60's. I was single and had no special ties, so the 7/24 thing didn't bother me too much. My leaving was more because I wanted to do other things work wise, and not because I disliked the job.

While the lack of routine, i.e., "regular hours" requires the right mind-set for both an individual and his or her family, I've known many families who have lived with it and done well. I guess that part relates to your personal circumstances and the attitude taken by any "significant other" in your life. Much later I did spend several years in a customer trouble shooter type position that was a 7/24, and the "something different" every day appealed to me.

I am inclined to think the pay is relativley good. It happens that my wife and I prepare tax returns and so we see the financial details of about 1000 taxpayers. None are railroad people, but from what I read about current train and engine incomes, I'd say you could be getting better income than that provided by many other occupations. You might also realize that many other service jobs do not have anything like the fabled 9 to 5 schedule, and the pay in many of those in retail stores or food service-well- thanks for the minimum age.

So I guess the answer to your question is pretty subjective. It is, after all, a job. Starting a new job, especially one on a railroad, offers a certain amount of excitment in the newness, the size of the toys, and putting miles on the road each day. Sooner or later that wears off, and then you have to rely on your own, hopefully positive,attitude about working for a living. With luck, you work with many good people and bosses, and wind up staying all the years it takes to retirement. Many have done that before you.

[CShaveRR]

I'm sure similar threads have been in this forum in the past, and you'll get a wide variety of opinions.

I'm a current railroader, dealing with yard movements. I'm home every night, and work 40 hours a week, more or less (less this past week, due to a brief trip to the hospital). The pay is good...I make over $200 a day for eight hours. Some folks work their tails off, and probably bring home more than twice as much in a year, but these are the guys that are in it for the dough.

Do I like it? Yes.

Would I recommend it? Not necessarily. It'll take you years to get a job where you can make the claims that I can about being home every night, etc. Notice that I didn't say anything about weekends...they're Tuesday and Wednesday for me (not a complaint, just the facts). Another fact: about 75 percent of the people who work the same job I do are divorced, in their second marriage, or single. I'm one of the lucky ones.

Don't worry about remote control...you will be trained for it, if you qualify.

I hired out at 21, with limited knowledge of what I was getting into. I'm still here, getting closer to an age when I can retire, but not sure whether I want to.

I guess I would say that you should check it out...if it doesn't look good to you (and only you will know that), walk away.

Carl

P.S. Be prepared to be known as "cheesehead" if you wind up working in Illinois!

[edblysard]

Hi Steve,
I agree with Carl, you will know quickly if this is for you.
Like Carl, I go home every night, because I work for a terminal/switching railroad.
I too, make about $200.00 per day.
The thing is, after a while, the pay isnt what keeps you there.
So the only adivce I can offer is this.
Go do it...
In a week or two, you will know if this is what you want to do.
If so, you will most likley never have another job again.
If not, then walk away, and find something else.

For me, the fact that no two days are ever really alike, and they pay me to bang cars around in the yard makes it the best job I have ever had.
I started railroading late in life, I was 36 when I hired out.
Wish I had done it sooner, but...
So, a young man such as yourself really has nothing to lose, if you have a foot in the door, go try it.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[wabash1]

You will hear all sorts of stuff on here and some is true others is not. if you are happy with working on the railroad the hours wont matter much. the pay is good . On the ns railroad you start out as a trainman ( conductor swiitch man brakeman) and work up to engineer. but this is not where you stop. every employee has the opertunity to become a official if you have engine service exsperance you can become a road forman other wise you are stuck to trainmaster and on up. how far you go is up to you. I wont recommend it to anyone. its something you must like before you will be happy. and trying it is just one way of doing it. spend a week out at a yard watching what is done stand in the weather for 8 hrs or more to see if you can do it. if it doesnt bother you then go for it.

[Anonymous]

Working on the railroad is NOT for everyone. I am a thru-freight conductor and will be attending engineer school sometime this year. During my first year with the U.P. I earned $65,000 and will earn approx. $72,000 this year and even more next year. Give it a shot, you can always quit. Good Luck out there!!!

[Noah Hofrichter]

Steve,

I noticed you live in Wisconsin. I would recommend looking into the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad. I don't work for it, just railfan it, but I have talked to several engineers who do work for the WSOR. From what I know the WSOR will pay for your training as a cunductor and as a engineer. I don't know a whole lot more about the employment with them, but they have allitle on there website in my signature below.

Hope I helped,
Noah